Folding couch or davenport



oct. 15, 1929; w. E. FRANK FOLDING coucH on DAVENPORT Filed Sept. 22, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEA/TOE f//f/n E. Fran BY 3%? HTroEN/Sv/S Oct, 15, 192% wo E. FRANK FOLDING comm on mvnronw Filed sept. 22, 1924 5 sheets-sheet 5 T TOE/VE V5 Patented Oct. 15, 1929 UNITED STATES "PATENT oa'rica 'WILLIAM E. FRANK, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR A'IBO FOSTER BROTHERS MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF ST. LOUQIS, MISSOURI, A. CORPORATION 4OIF MISSOURI FOLDING COUCH OR DAVENPORT Application mea september aa, 1924. serial no; 739,101.

This invention relates to fclding couches,

davenports and day beds of the type in which the mattress supporting means is composed of two relatively narrow sections arranged in superimposed relation when the couch is closed and combined with an operating mechanism in such a manner that the top section will move forwardly withoutv reversing into a position in front of the bottom section, and

the bottom section will move upwardly into horizontal alignment with the top section during the operation of opening the couch, thus Athe particular type mentioned in which the bottom section of thel mattress supporting means is so constructed and arranged that the front edge of same will tilt downwardly sufficiently, during the operation of opening' and closing the couch, to insure the rear edge of the top section of the mattress supporting means clearing the folded mattress that normally rests upon said bottom 'section when the couch is closed, thereby facilitating ythe operation of opening a`nd closing the couch and making it practicable to equip the couch with a relatively thick mattress or pd.

Another object is to providea folding couch or davenport of the type referred to that is inexpensive to construct; that is strong and rugged enough to successfully withstand rough usage and which is of such design that it can be opened and closed easily by exerting a slight pull or push on the top section of the mattress supporting means. y n

Figure 1 ofthe drawings is a perspective view, partly broken away, of a folding couch or'davenport constructed in accordancewith my invention. y

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view'f the couch, showing it open.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view,

showing the couch closed.

Figure 4 is a top plan view, showing the construction and arrangement of some of the elements of the operatingv mechanism combined with the two sections of the mattress supporting means; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view, illustrating how the front edge of the bottom section of the mattress supporting means tilts downwardly during the operation of opening and closing the couch.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate the preferred form of my invention, A and B designate the top and bottom sections, respectively, of the mattress supporting means,

each of which sections consists of a rigid frame of substantially obldng shape in general outline equipped with coiled springs l or l any othertsuitable means for sustaining a pad or kmattress C. W hen the couch is closed, as

shown' in Figure 3, the bottom section Bof the mattress supporting means is arranged directly underneath the top section A and far enough below the same to enable the mattress .C tobe maintained in a folded condition upon the bottom section B, the top section A then Serving as a support for a removable upholstered seat D. 'loA open the couch vthe upholstered seat is first removed from the top section A of the mattresssupporting means and said top section is thereafter pulled forwardly into the position shown in Figure 2, which operation causes the'b'ottom-section B to move upwardly into horizontal alignment with the top section so as to enable `the mattress C to be unfolded and spread out flat upon the two sections A and B. During the operation of pullingthe top section forwardly into its extended position and during the operation of pushing said top -section rearwardly into its closed position, the bottom section B is caused tovassume an angular position or downwardlyinclined position, wherein 'the front edge of said bottom section is spaced far enough away from the rear edge of` the top sectiomA to eliminate the possibility of the rear edge of said top section striking against or rubbing upon the folded mattress C when the rear edge of the top section A is traveling over the front' edge of the bottom section B. This is one of the distinguishing characteristics of my improved couch and isa feature that adds greatly to its commercial utility, as it facilitates the opening and closing of the couch and makes it practicable to store the bedding inside of the folded mattress, when the couch is closed, even if the mattress is comparatively thick.

In order that the sections A and Bof the mattress supporting means and the operating mechanism combined with said sections maybe installed easily in the couch, said parts .are combined with two end plates or supporting members E that are connected i'n any suitable way to the end frames of the couch. The bottom section B is carried by two pairs of swinging members'F and G pivotally mounted on the end plates E and pivotally connected lto said bottem section B in such a way that said bottom section will assume an inclined position with its frontedge tilted downwardly when said bottom section moves upwardly during the operation bottom section B and whose short arms are pressure on said bell crank levers F in a direction tending to swing the long arms of same upwardly. The swinging members Gr on the end plates E consist of links of les-:s length than the long arms of the levers F and provided with elongated slots 3 which receive pins 4 that project laterally from the end pieces of thebottom section B. When the couch is closed, as shown in Figure 3, the links G and the long arms of the bell crank levers F project downwardly, and thus hold the bottom section B of the mattress supporting means in a horizontal position -at a point considerably below the top section A of said mattress supporting means. Said top section A is also carried by two pairs of swinging members H and I pivotally mounted on the` end plates E and pivotally connected to said top section. In the couch herein illustrated the members H consist of bell crank levers whose long arms are pivotal'- ly connected at 5 to the rear edge of the top section A and whose short arms, are provided with lateral projections or groored rollers 6 that travel in elongated guides on the bottom section B of themattress supporting means, which guides are herein illusl trated as being formed by the end pieces of the bottom section and by bars or rails 7 arrangedv parallel to said end pieces and securely connected tosame so as to form guideways at the ends Y- of the bottom section B "that co-operate with the lateral projectins or front edge of said bottom section upwardly into horizontal alignment with the top scctionl A during the operation of opening the couch, The swinging members I are herein illustrated as curved links pivotally connected at 8 to the top section A and'each provided at 'one end with an angularly-disposed arm designated by the reference Character 9 in Figure 5 that is pivotally connected at 10 to one of the end plates E. If desired, coiled springs I can be connected to the angularlydisposed arms 9 of the links I in such a way that the tension of said springs is increased when the top section A is approaching the end of its forward movement, and when said top section is approaching the end of its rearward movement, thereby tending to prevent the sections of the mattress supporting means coming to rest with a sudden shock or jar during the operation of opening and closing the couch. The top section A is provided with pivotally mount-ed legs J for supporting the front edge of same when the couch is open, and in order that said legs will be extended and collapsed automatically during the operation of 0 ening and closing the conch, said legs are ]oined by links 11 to extensions 12 of the links I that project beyond the pivots 8 which join said links I to the top section A.

When the couch is closed the long arms of the bell crank levers H and the curved links I project rearwardly, as shown in Figure 3, thus holding the top section A of the mattress supporting means in vertical alignment with the bottom section B. At such times the rollers or lateral projections 6 on the short arms of said levers H exert downward pressure on the bottom section B, and thus e'ectively hold said bottom section in its depressed position. When the top section A is moved forwardly during the operation of opening the couch the bell crank levers H and the links I swing upwardly and forwardly, thereby permitting the bottom section B to move upwardly under the influence of the springs F that are connected to the short arms of the bell crank levers F that sustain the rear edge of the bottom section B. Due to the fact that said bell crank levers F are longer than the link G which sustain the frontedge of the bottom section B, said bottom section will assume an inclined position with its front edge tilted downwardly during the upward movement of said bottom section. At about the time the rear edge of the top section A is positioned above the front edge of the bottom section B, during the forward movement of said top section, said sections occupy substantially the position shown in Figure 5, wherein it will be'noted that the rear edge of the top section A is spaced far enough away from the front edge of the bottom section B to eliminate the possibility of said top section A striking against or rubto the levers bing upon the folded mattress C4 carried by the bottom section B. The continued forward movement of the top section A causes the rollers or lateral projections 6 on the short arms of the bell crank levers H to bear against the guide bars 7 on the bottom section B, and thus exert pressure on said bottom section in a direction to raise the front edge of said bottom section upwardly into horizontal alignment with the top section 4A by the time said top section reaches its extended or forward position. During the first portion of the upward movement of the bottom section B the bell crank levers F which sustain the rear edge of said bottom section come in contact with and are arrested by stops 13, on the end plates E. Thereafter, when the yrollers 6 on the bell crank levers H exert up- Ward pressure on the guide bars 7 connected to the bottom section to tilt the front edge of said section upwardly, said bottom section osc1llates on the pivots 2 which join the same moved upwardly and rearwardly from its 'extended position to close; the couch the front edge of t e bottom section B swings downwardly while the rollers 6 on thebell crank levers H are traveling rearwardly in the elongated guides formed by the end'pieces of the bottom section Banti by the guide bars 7 connected to said end pieces, thus permit-h ting the rear edge of the top section A to clear the mattress C which has been doubled over or folded, as shown in Figure 5. During tlfe 4time the top section A is moving rearwardly over the bottom section B the rollers or lateral projections 6 on the bell crank levers H" in a direction tending to move it upwardly,

it would be possible to use links to sustaln the rear edge of the bottom section and operate the bell crank levers H in such 4a way that they would positively raise the bottom section B into an inclined position and thereafter tilt thel front edge of saidbottom section upwardly into thehorizontal plane of lthe top section A during. the operation of extending said top section. Accordingly, I

, wish it to be understood that my broad idea contemplates the use of an operating mechanism comprising elements actuated by the movement of the top section into its extended or closed` positions and combined with the `bottom section B in such' a way that they either permit or cause said bottom section F. When the top section A is to moveu wardly first into an inclined position and thereafter into a horizontal position parallel or substantiall so with the top section when said top section is extended.

Having thus described my invention, what -I claim as nl Jv and desire to secure by'Letters Patent is:

1. A folding couch or davenport provided with a mattress supporting means that comprises two sections arranged horizontally, one above the other, when. the couch is closed, the top section being adapted to be raised and moved forwardly, without reversing, into an extended position, and mechanism for moving the bottom section upwardly into the horizontal plane of the top section when said top section is extended, said mechanism being constructed so as to cause the bottom section to be held in an inclined position with its front edge tilted downwardly sufficiently to be cleared 'by the rear edge of the top section when said rear edge is traveling over the front edge of the bottom sect-ion.

2. A folding couch or davenport rovided with a mattress supporting means t at comprises two sections that have no direct connection with each other and which are arranged horizontally in superimposed relation when the couch is closed, the top section being Vadapted to be raised and moved forwardly into its extended position, or raised and lmoved rearwardly into its retracted position,

without reversing or turning upside-down in either ofsaid operations and the bottom sec- 'tion being adapted to move upwardly bodily into horizontal alignment with the top section duringthe operation of 'extending said top section and move downwardly bodily to a point below said top section when said top section is restored to its closed position, and i means for causing the bottom section to assume an inclined position with its front edge tilted downwardly when said bottom section is being raised or lowered so as to insure the rear edge of the top section clearing the mattress that is maintained in a folded condition on said .bottom section when the couch is closed.

3. A folding couch or davenport provided with a mattress supporting means that is composed' of two sections arranged substantially horizontally, one above the other, when the' couch is closed, the top section being adapted to move upwardly and forwardly, without reversing, into an extended position. and an operating mechanism combined with saidA sections and constructed in such a way that 4. A folding couch or davenport provided with va mattress supporting means that comprises two sections arranged substantially horizontally, one above the other, when the couch is closed, the top section being adapted to move upwardly and forwardly, withoutreversing, into an extended position, andan operating mechanism 'combined with sald sections and constructed so that the bottom section will assume an angular position with its front edge tilted downwardly sufliciently to clear the rear edge of the top section when said top section is traveling over the front edge of said bottom section during the operaupwardly into an inclined position with its front edge tilted downwardly, during part of the forvsiiird movement of the top section, and thereafter swing into horizontal alignment with said top section,

6. A folding couch or with a mattress supporting means comprisn (l 'a top section and a bottom section arranged substantially horizontally in superimposed relation when the couch is-c'los'ed, the top seetion being adapted to be moved upwardly and forwardly over the front edge of the bottoniv section, without reversing, during the operation of opening the couch, and mechanism for raising and lowering said bottom section, constructed to cause the same to assume an inclined position with its Vfront edge tilted vdownwardlyduring certain portions of the raising and lowering operation so as to insure mattress or folded bedding the rear edge of the top section'clearing the that is carried by the bottom section. 1

7. 'A- folding couch o r davenport provided with amattress supporting means composed of a top section and a bottom section arranged in superimposed relation when the couch is closed, swinging members that carry the top section, and means connected directly to certain of said swinging members and arranged to move transversely of said bottom section in guides on the end portions of same for 4raising and depressing sald bottom sect1on and causing the front edge of same to tilt downwardly during the operation of opening and closing the couch.

8. A folding couch or davenport provided witha mattress supporting means composed oatop section and a bottom section that are arrangedoneabove the other When'the'couch lto i isclosed, the top section being adapted 'said section is davenportl provided` of two superim osed s ranged in space vrelation when the couch 1s move forwardly, without reversing, into an extended position, and swinging members that carry said bottom section pivotally connected to the front and rear portions of said bottom section and so proportioned as to cause 'the bottomsection Ato assume an inclined osition with its front edge tilted downwar y at certain points in the upward and downward movement of said bottom section, whereby the rear edge of the top section will clear the front edge of said bottom section when said top section is being extended and retracted.

9. A folding couch or davenport provided with a mattress supporting means composed of a top section and a bottom section arranged in such a way that the bottom section will move upwardly into horizontal alignment with the top section during the operation 4 of o ening the couch and will move downwarc ly to a point below said top section during the opera-tion of closing the couch, the top section being adapted to be moved forwardly, without'reversing, into an extended position, and pivotally mounted supporting members vfor said bottom section proportined so that said section will assume an inplined position with its front edve tilted downwardly when being raised and lowered,

whereby the rear edge of the top section will vclear the front edge of said bottom section 'when said top section is being extended and 10. A folding couch'or'davenport provided with a mattress vsupportng means composed ctions 4that are arclofi ed, a supporting structure, swinging bell crank levers on sald supporting structure having their long arms pivotally connected to the- 'top-section of the mattress supporting means for moving saidtop section upwardly and forf.

wardly, and devices'on the short arms of said" bell crank leversthat travel transversely of (he bottom section in elongated guideways in said bottom section for bodily movin said bottom section and causing the fronte ge of same to tilt downwardly when the top section is bein extended and retracted.

' 11. folding couch or davenport provided with'a mattress supporting means composed of a top section and a bottom section arranged one above the other when the couch is closed, swinging bellcrank levers having their long arms pivotally connected to-said top section adjacent the rear edge of same, swinging links pivotally connected to said top section and cti-"operating with said bell crank levers to sustain said. top section, a supporting structure Vswinging members on said supporting structure that carry the bottom section, and devices en the short arms of said `bell crank levers arranged in elongated guideways in said bottom section.

of two sections arranged substantially horizontally in superimposed relation when the couch is closed, a mechanism for moving the top section upwardly and forwardly into an extendedA position, a spring-actuated mechanism for raising/,said bottom section, constructed so that said section will assume an inclined position with its front edge tilted .downwardly during' the upward movement of said section, and means operated by the movement of the top section into its open and closed positions for raising and loweringthe front edge of said bottom section relatively to the means that sustains same.

13. A folding couch or davenport provided with a mattress supporting means composed of a top section and a bottom section arranged in superimposed relation with the front edge of said bottom section, spaced away from the rearedge of said top section when the couch is closed, a spring-actuated means for sustaining said bottom section, constructed so as to move said section upwardly into an-inclined4 A position with its front edge tilted downwardly during the operation of opening the couch, and a sustaining means for said top section operatively connected with the sustaining means of said bottom section in such a way that the front edge of said bottom section will be raised upwardly into horizontal alignment with said top sectionduringthe operation of extending said top section.

14. A folding couch or davenport provided with a mattress supporting means composed of a top section and a bottom section arranged in superimposed relation when the couch is closed, swinging links provided with elongated slots that receive lateral projections on the ends of said bottom section located adjacent the front edge of same, swinging bell crank levers whose long arms are pivotally connected to said bottom section adjacent the rear edge of same, actuating springs for said bell crank levers connected to the short arms of same, elongated guideways on said bottom section, and pivotally mounted supporting members for said topy section, two of which are provided with angularly-disposed arms that are equipped with elements that travel in the guideways on said bottom section.

15. A folding couch or davenport provided with a mattress supporting means composed of a top section and a bottom section arranged in superimposed relation when the couch isclosed, legs for sustaining the front edge of said top section when it is extended, a springactuated mechanism for raising the bottom section and holding it in an inclined position with its front edge tilted downwardly, and

means operated by the movement of said top vsection-into and out of its extended position for opening and collapsingsaid supporting leg and for raising and lowering the front edgeof said bottom section.

16. A folding couch or davenport provided i with a mattress supporting means composed of a top section and a bottom section, stationary end plates, spring-actuated bell crank `levers on said end plates pivotally connected to the rear edge portion of said bottom section, slotted links on said end plates pivotally connected to'the front edge portion of said bottomy section, elongated guideways arranged at the ends of said bottomsection, separate bell crank levers on said end plates pivotally connected to the rear edge portion of the top section and provided on their short arms with elementsthat travel in said guideways, and curved links on said end plates piv-` otally connected to said top section and combined with springs that tend to absorb the shock on said top section when it reaches its open and closed positions. i

17. A folding couch or davenport provided with a mattress supporting means composed of a top section and a bottom section-arranged in superimposed relation when the couch is closed, stationary end plates, slotted links on saidend plates that sustain the front.

to said top section and provided adjacent their axis of movement with angularly-disposed arms, springs connected to said arms for the purpose described, `and pivotally mounted legs on the top section for sustaining' the front edge of same combined with said swinging links-in such a way that they will be opened and collapsed during the operation ofl opening and closing the couch.

18. A folding couch provided with a mattress supporting means composed of two superimposed horizontal sections that are arranged in spaced relation when the couch is closed, a supportin structure, swinging bellcrank levers on sai supporting structure having their long arms pivotally connectedlto the top section of the mattress supporting means for moving said top section upwardly and forwardly, means for bodily moving said bottom section upwardly and causing the front edge of the same to tilt downwardly when the top section iss being extended or retracted, said last named means including devices on the short arms of said bell crank levers and elongated transverse guideways in the bottom section'in which said devices travel during extension or retraction of said top section.

WILLIAM E. FRANK. 

